Apparatus for Monitoring the Condition of a Device and Device with such an Apparatus and Method for Condition Monitoring

Abstract

An apparatus for airborne-sound-based condition monitoring of a device includes at least one microphone assigned to each component of a plurality of components of the device that is to be monitored.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for airborne-sound-based condition monitoring of a device comprising:
 at least one microphone assigned to each component of a plurality of components of the device that is to be monitored.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one microphone includes a directional characteristic or is a directional microphone, and   the directional microphone includes a rotatable joint or a swiveling joint.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a primary housing located at a distance from the device.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the at least one microphone is arranged on the primary housing, and/or   the at least one microphone is located at another distance from the primary housing.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one microphone is arranged in the immediate vicinity or in the airborne-sound near-field of the corresponding component of the plurality of components to which the at least one microphone is assigned. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at one microphone includes at least two microphones arranged approximately along a beam that originates from the corresponding component of the plurality of components to which the at least two microphones are assigned.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least one microphone is arranged approximately in one plane, and   the apparatus is configured to determine the corresponding component of the plurality of components to which the at least one microphone is assigned from transit time differences of a sound signal.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an energy-harvesting apparatus fastened to the device and configured to convert vibrations or heat of the device into electrical energy.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a decomposed structure, in which the at least one microphone is configured as a satellite microphone with integrated electronics.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the satellite microphone is implemented with energy independence and includes a battery, an accumulator, and/or an energy-harvesting apparatus configured to convert vibrations or heat of the device into electrical energy to power the satellite microphone. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 an electronic design of the primary housing or of a primary device and of the satellite microphone are of identical construction, and   the apparatus further includes a wireless data transmission device and a further sensor.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the airborne-sound-based condition is cavitation, insufficient suction, wrong or incorrect installation of the plurality of components, or a deviating speed of rotation. 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 a device including a plurality of components; and   an apparatus for airborne-sound-based condition monitoring of the device, the apparatus comprising at least one microphone assigned to each component of the plurality of components of the device.   
     
     
         14 . The system according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the device includes a mobile working machine, a powertrain, a hydrostatic gearbox, one or a plurality of hydrostatic displacement machines, an electrical machine, a combustion engine, a hydrodynamic machine, a mechanical gearbox, or a hydraulic control unit, and   the plurality of components includes a hydrostatic displacement machine, an auxiliary aggregate of a combustion engine, a drive shaft, a roller bearing, a piston, a tire, or a valve.   
     
     
         15 . A method for airborne-sound-based condition monitoring of a device including a plurality of components, comprising:
 assigning at least one microphone to each component of the plurality of components of the device; and   evaluating sound signals of the assigned at least one microphone.   
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 initializing through generating a sound signal at at least one component of the plurality of components.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 automatically activating the condition monitoring through a trigger.   
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 minimizing interfering noises during the condition monitoring; or   insulating the sound signals from the interfering noises during the condition monitoring.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 calculating or estimating a remaining service life of at least one component of the plurality of components.   
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 localizing at least one component of the plurality of components with a beam-forming method.